5th April 1961

Ian Allan
(Ashford & Eastleigh Works Railtour)

Locos Used 30117, 30909, 30913, 31019 & 41293
Stock Used load 10 (approx 360 tons gross)

Route :

Loco(s) Route
30117 + 31019

London Charing Cross - Chistlehurst - Swanley - Maidstone East - Ashford
30117 + 31019

Ashford - Tonbridge - Redhill
30909

Redhill - Guildford - Woking
30913

Woking - Basinstoke - Eastleigh
41293 Eastleigh - Eastleigh Works
30913 Eastleigh Works - Eastleigh
30913 Eastleigh - Basingstoke - London Waterloo

Notes :
Don Benn comments : Main recollections are good timekeeping all day and some competent loco performances.  High speed dash with the two 4-4-0s down past West Malling and with 30913 down Roundwood.  Would be nice to know what the maximum was at Wallers Ash.  Must have been close to 80. Don't think the train went into the Works at Ashford but did at Eastleigh (Webmasters note: Chris Lee, who was a passenger on the tour, confirms the train stopped at Ashford station).

Trevor Machell confirms the tour was repeated the following week (same 08.52 departure from Charing Cross) with 30117 and D1 31749 working the first leg - can anyone confirm the locos and route (same?) for the remainder of the day?

Sources : Don Benn, John Clifford, Trevor Machell & Chris Lee

Photo Review


30117 starting the day at Charing Cross (photo: Dr Christopher Fifield)


30117 & 31019 remove the stock at Ashford (photo: Dr Christopher Fifield)


30932, 31776 & 31276 lie condemned at Ashford (photo: Gordon Jakes)


Condemned 31694 gets much attention from visitors (photo: Gordon Jakes)


31759, also captured at Ashford (photo: Gordon Jakes)


30501 outside the main erecting shop at Eastleigh (photo: Gordon Jakes)


From Steve Oddy's ticket collection.


Timings (Actual & some booked)
(from Don Benn)

Location (booked) Actual
Charing Cross (08.52d) 08.51
London Bridge 09/01
New Cross 09/06
Hither Green 09/09½
Chislehurst 09/20
Swanley 09/28
Otford 09/38
Wrotham 09/47
West Malling 09/51½ (approx 70mph average)
Maidstone East 09/58
Lenham 10/12
Charing 10/16 (approx 60mph average)
Ashford (10.22a ~ 12.25d) 10.24 ~ 12.24
Headcorn 12/39
Paddock Wood 12/51
Tonbridge 12/58½
Edenbridge 13/13
Redhill 13.30a ~ 13.37½d
Reigate 13/44
Betchworth 13/47½
Deepdene 13/50 (approx 65mph average)
Gomshall 13/57
Guildford 14.07a ~ 14.09½d
Woking 14.22½a ~ 14.32½d
Farnborough 14/47
Winchfield 14/53½
Basingstoke 15/01½
Worting Jn 15/04½
Roundwood 'Box 15/11½
Wallers Ash 'Box 15/16 (approx 74mph average)
Winchester Jn 15/25
Winchester City 15/29½
Shawford 15/33½
Eastleigh (15.40a ~ 16.50d at works) 15.39 ~ 17.03 (station)
Shawford 17/10½
Winchester Jn 17/20
Micheldever 17/28
Worting Jn 17/41½
Basingstoke 17/45
Hook 17/50
Winchfield 17/53½
Farnborough 17/59½
Brookwood 18/04½
Woking 18/09
Weybridge 18/15
Hersham 18/18
Surbiton 18/21
Wimbledon 18/25½
Clapham Junction 18/29
Waterloo (18.37a) 18.36

Mileages :
0.00 Charing Cross - 57.20 Ashford - 45.95 Redhill - 26.55 Woking - 49.35 Eastleigh - 73.55 Waterloo (total 252.60 miles)

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